1838

Overview

One of the most influential Christian philosophers of his day, William Paley possessed exceptional reasoning and writing abilities which are best on display in The Works of William Paley (4 vols.). Known primarily for his contributions in ethics, philosophy, and natural theology, many of his works were used as textbooks at Cambridge, being widely used even until the 1920s.

His Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy, for example, was a highly influential work, standing to this day as a foundational philosophical text of late Enlightenment Britain. Paving the way for future developments in social and political policy in both the United States and Britain, he argued for such foreward-thinking agendas as the abolition of the slave trade, women's rights, and a graduated income tax.

Natural Theology was Paley's last published work, wherein he argued that the existence of God can be proven from the general well-being present in the physical and social order. In this work he famously penned the Watchmaker Analogy, which is still used by many Christian apologists today.

Also included in this collection are an in-depth biography, private and public sermons, and several topical treatises.

This extensive collection brings together all the works of this important figure in Christian thought, and with the Logos Bible Software edition, each volume in The Works of William Paley (4 vols.) is fully integrated with the other resources in your Logos library, including Bibles, dictionaries, and numerous other Bible study tools. The Logos edition also allows you to perform powerful searches and word studies, and scripture references are linked to the wealth of language resources in your digital library. This makes The Works of William Paley (4 vols.) more powerful and easier to access than ever before for reading, sermon preparation, research, and Bible study.

Praise for William Paley

It is gratifying to behold the man, whose penetrating mind could enlighten the abstrusest difficulties of philosophy, cheerfully engaged in the humblest works of utility; the writer, who could instruct divines and scholars, employed, like the amiable Dr. Watts, in reducing knowledge to the level of the most youthful capacity.

—Rev. Robert Lynam

The logic of this book and, as I may add, of his 'Natural Theology,' gave me as much delight as did Euclid. The careful study of these works, without attempting to learn any part by rote, was the only part of the academical course which, as I then felt and as I still believe, was of the least use to me in the education of my mind.

—Charles Darwin

The examples and detail Paley presents are amazing in both quantity and literary quality. Even with the age of his book, the extent to which Paley draws from the scientific information available to him is truly impressive, and, one could argue, is still persuasive in light of contemporary science.

The Works of William Paley, vol. 1

The first volume in this collection contains an extensive 260-page biography, detailing his upbringing as the son of an Anglican clergyman to his rise to fame as a leading scholar and philosopher of his day.

Also included is Paley's most important work, Natural Theology. Paley's famous Watchmaker Analogy serves as the introduction to his in-depth treatise on the teleological argument for the existence of God. Anyone who is studying or interested in apologetics, especially the ontological arguments, should begin here. Throughout the work he argues that the complexity of the created order stands as demonstrable proof for the existence of a creator. In his autobiography, Charles Darwin famously stated that Paley's Natural Theology was one of cornerstones of his education.

The Works of William Paley, vol. 2

Evidence of Christianity is included in the second volume, whereby Paley takes the reader through the historical evidences for the truth of the Christian message and the scriptures. Through a fair and balanced historical analysis, Paley examines the differing accounts of the life of Christ and the expansion of Christianity in the first century. He argues that the Christian message is firmly grounded in objective history, over against some of the arguments from his contemporaries.

In a similar vein as Evidence, Horæ Paulinæ takes up the Pauline corpus and argues for its historical veracity, especially as it relates to the Acts of the Apostles.

The Works of William Paley, vol. 3

Paley's Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy was a foundational work in the area of Christian ethics, becoming one of the most popular books of the 19th century in both England and America. Coming at a time when slavery was the norm, Paley forcefully argues for the abolition of slavery, demonstrating how the scriptures give no grounds for its existence. Additionally, he takes up issues of women's rights and civil government. His exceptional ability at taking complex arguments and communicating them clearly has caused this work to be widely read until the present day.

The Works of William Paley, vol. 4

Volume four contains additional sermons, writings, and works from Paley, including:

1 Cor. 3:16 - On the Influence of the Spirit

2 Sam. 17:23 - Suicide

Charges to clergymen, and many more sermons

Product Details

Title: The Works of William Paley

Author: William Paley, D.D.

Edition: Revised and Expanded

Publisher: Longman and Co.

Volumes: 4

Pages: 1,870

About the Author

William Paley (1743–1805) was one of the most influential philosophers of the late Enlightenment period. Having studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, he later became a tutor of philosophy and the Greek New Testament. Later on in his life, he became Archdeacon of Carlisle within the Anglican Church. His work in the area of natural theology was groundbreaking, particularly in his formulation of the Watchmaker Analogy. Some of his other important works delve into the areas of social and political ethics and were added to the list of required texts at Cambridge shortly after their printing. A magnate of Christian philosophy, Paley's works paved the way for modern studies in Christian apologetics and historical criticism.